How Much Does It Cost to Move a Boat?

So, you’re moving south from the Great Lakes but do not want to leave the boat behind. But will moving companies move the house, the dogs and the boat too?   The answer is…it depends.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re trying to figure out how to move your boat.

• Check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to see the regulations for moving a boat. Each state has different rules and regulations regarding boats, so it is important
•  that you know what they are before you even begin to plan your move.

• Find a moving company that is willing to move your boat. This may be difficult as many moving companies will not move boats due to the liability involved. If you have trouble finding a company, try contacting a boat moving company. These companies specialize in moving boats and will likely be more than willing to help you out.

• Get an estimate for the cost of moving your boat. This can be done by contacting a few moving companies and getting estimates from each. Be sure to include the cost of gas, the cost of the boat itself, and any other fees that may be associated with the move.

• Figure out how you are going to transport your boat. You can either drive it yourself or have it towed by a moving company. If you decide to drive it yourself, be sure to get insurance for the boat in case anything happens to it during the move.

• Make sure to pack your boat properly. Including making sure that all the windows and doors are secure, all the compartments are empty, and that there is no loose gear onboard. Also, be sure to label all the boxes, so you know what goes where.

• Lastly, load or have your boat loaded onto the moving truck. Be sure to tie it down securely so that it does not move around during the move. Again, if you have hired professional movers, they should take care of all of this for you.

How do you transport a large boat?

Depending on the size of the boat, one of four methods are usually used to ship a boat:

Shipping a boat on its own trailer. It seems obvious how this one works but will you tow your boat or have the moving company do it?

Shipping a boat in an open transport truck. The boat will be loaded on the truck and then transported to its destination. 

Shipping a boat in a container. The boat will be craned into a shipping container and then transported to its destination. 

Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) shipping. The boat will be driven or floated onto the transport ship and then secured for transport.

Shipping a boat overseas. If you are moving overseas, your boat will need to be sent via container or RORO.

How much does a Work From Home Boat Hauler make?

As of Jun 27, 2022, the average annual pay for a Work From Home Boat Hauler in the United States is $57,839 annually.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.81 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,112/week or $4,820/month.

Your actual pay will be dependent on a number of factors, including your experience, the size of the boat, the distance it needs to be shipped, and the shipping method used.

How much does it cost to ship a boat across the US?

Boat size            Estimated price

10′                      $2 – $3 per mile

11′                       $2.25 – $3.25 per mile

12′                       $2.50 – $3.50 per mile

>12′                    $2.75 – $3.75 per mile

Boat transport by water

Transporting a boat by water is by far the most common (and cheapest) way to ship a boat across the country.

There are two main types of transport: sailboats and powerboats.

Sailboats are typically cheaper to transport because they can be transported on their keels. This means they can be loaded onto trailers without having to be dismantled first.

On the other hand, powerboats typically have to be transported on their hulls. This means that they need to be lifted onto the trailer, which can be a more complex and expensive process.

The cost of shipping a boat across the country will also depend on the distance it needs to be shipped and the type of boat being shipped.

Shorter distances will be cheaper to ship than longer ones, and sailboats will be cheaper to ship than powerboats.

You will need to hire a boat shipping company to transport a boat by water across oceans,  lakes, or rivers.

A boat shipping company has Captains to navigate the boat and a crew to help with the loading and unloading of the boat.

The cost of shipping a boat by water will depend on the size of the boat, the distance it needs to be shipped, and the number of stops along the way.

For example, shipping a boat from New York to Los Angeles will cost more than shipping the same boat from Los Angeles to San Diego.

The cost of shipping a boat by water can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Another good example would be shipping a boat from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean. The boat would have to be captained from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and finally to the Atlantic Ocean.

How much does it cost to move a boat?

In conclusion, to reiterate what we mentioned earlier, the cost of shipping a boat depends on many factors such as the size of the boat, the distance it needs to be shipped, and how it is shipped, by land or by water.

We have found that container shipping is usually the most expensive option, followed by RORO shipping. Open transport trucks are typically the cheapest option, but this method is not always available depending on the size of the boat.

The best way to get an accurate estimate for the cost of shipping your boat is to get quotes from a few different companies. Be sure to include the cost of gas, the cost of the boat itself, and any other fees that may be associated with the move, such as hiring captains and crews.